Hello everyone! My name is HUANG YAWEI, and I’m from Taiwan! I became deeply fascinated with the works of Japan's renowned literary authors, such as Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yasunari Kawabata. Inspired by their writings, which often featured Kyoto, I decided to study abroad there. Unfortunately, due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to return to Taiwan with a heavy heart. Afterward, I graduated from a university in Taiwan specializing in fashion design and started working in the textile industry. However, my desire to improve my Japanese language skills and deepen my understanding of Japanese culture led me to study in Japan in April 2023.
Now, after completing six months of life as an international student in Japan, I am excited to share that I will be joining a Japanese apparel trading company soon as a full-time employee. I look forward to this new chapter and am grateful for the opportunity!
■Have you heard of the "Kurama no Himatsuri (Fire Festival)" held at Mt. Kurama, which is steeped in Tengu legends?
Do you know about the Kurama no Himatsuri (Fire Festival), one of Kyoto's three great peculiar festivals, which takes place every year on October 22nd as part of the annual ritual at Yuki Shrine in Kurama, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City? Or perhaps you’ve participated in it? I joined the festival with friends who were visiting from Taiwan, and since it was my first festival experience in Japan, I was deeply impressed by the scale of the event, and it has remained a strong memory ever since. In this article, I would like to introduce the charm of this unique festival that has been celebrated for over 1,000 years in Kyoto, as well as some important points to keep in mind when participating in it.
■Kyoto’s Three Great Peculiar Festivals:
①Kurama no Himatsuri – Held every year on October 22nd
②Imamiya Yasurai Matsuri – Held on the second Sunday of April each year
③Uzumasa Ushi Matsuri (OX Festival) – Held in October
※The term "Kisai" (peculiar festival) refers to festivals that are "unusual" compared to others, or those that are unique to a particular place, offering an experience that can only be found there.
※Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to valuable traditional arts and cultural practices that have been passed down over time and are designated to be preserved for future generations.
■The Charm of the "Kurama no Himatsuri (Fire Festival)" ①A spectacular and mystical experience with powerful chants
On the day of the festival, over 500 to 600 torches, large and small, are lit. The flames of the torches rising in the darkness create a truly mystical atmosphere, making it feel as if the flames are guiding us, the tourists, toward Yuki Shrine. In addition, the locals wear traditional Japanese festival attire such as “Happi coats” and “fundoshi” (traditional Japanese loincloths), carrying torches with flames and shouting loudly, "Saireya, Sairyo" Seeing this traditional Japanese festival up close, something I had only seen in Japanese literature and anime, was incredibly exciting.
By the way, I later found out that the call "Saireya, Sairyo" means "It's a festival! It's a festival!", referring to the ceremonial aspect of the festival.
■The Charm of the "Kurama no Himatsuri (Fire Festival)②The opportunity to actively communicate with the locals
Even if you participate in a Japanese festival, it can be difficult to communicate with the locals, as you might just be watching from the sidelines. However, the locals I met during this festival were incredibly friendly and approached me actively. They shared with me how they had returned to their hometown for the Kurama no Himatsuri, their pride in the local traditions, and the reasons behind holding this festival. They even treated us to tea and sushi, warmly welcoming us. I truly felt that this was the first time I was able to communicate heart-to-heart with the Japanese people. I will never forget the experiences I had that day. Such a special experience is hard to find anywhere else in the world, so if you are even a little bit interested in the Kurama no Himatsuri, I highly encourage you to participate next year.
■Points to Keep in Mind When Participating in the Kurama no Himatsuri
・Warm clothing is a must
・Allow enough time to move around
・Be cautious about the participation of children and the elderly with lack of physical strength
The Kurama no Himatsuri takes place in the mountains, so the temperature drops significantly as night falls. Be sure to dress warmly. Additionally, access to Yuki Shrine, the venue for the festival, is only via the Eizan Railway, and it gets very crowded on the day of the event. Make sure to allow plenty of time for travel. Also, since the roads around the venue are narrow, stopping to stand still is prohibited. If you’re bringing small children or if you’re not confident in physical strength, it’s important to carefully research in advance whether you can participate comfortably.
■Conclusion
Japan has many traditional festivals with a history of hundreds of years. However, as I mentioned earlier when introducing the charm of the Kurama no Himatsuri, I believe that this festival offers the most mystical and unforgettable experience. I have already decided to participate in next year's Kurama no Himatsuri, and if you are interested in the Kurama no Himatsuri after reading my article, please join me! Thank you so much for reading until the end.
